Water softening apparatus



O'Ct. 13, E. E EICKMEY'ER ETAI- WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS original Filed wel.v 13, 1939 l 8 Sheets-Sheet l 0t- 13, '1942- E. E. ElcKMEYE-R l-:rAL 2,298,356

WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Qriginal Filed Feb. 13, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 13,1942. '5. E. ElcKMEYl-:R Erm.

WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Feb. 13, 3.939

Oct. 13, 1942. E. E. EICKMEYER ETAL WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS original Filed Feb. 1s, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet-l NVENTOR l .cf/an 55m/v5 ya? Oct. 13, 1942.

E. E. EICKMEYER ETAL.

WATER soFTENING APPARATUS original Filed Feb. 1s. 193s 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 OUH A TTORNE K5 Oct. 13, 1942.

E. E. EICKMEYER ErAL WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 13, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 i RW mw w m5 E L m m mm. 6. w .a m

A TT ORNE YJ Oct- 13, 1,942. E. E. ElcKMEYl-:R ETAL r 2,298,356

WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 13, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 @Hamm Oct. 13, 1942. E. E. ElcKMEYr-:R E-rm. 2,298,355

WATER soFTENING APPARATUS original Filed Feb. 13, 19:59 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 A TT ORNE YJ Patented Oct. 13, 1942 WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Earl E. Eickmeyer and Anthony G. Horvath, Day-'- ton, Ohio, assignors to The Dayton Pump and Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application February 13, 1939, Serial No.

256,066. Divided and this application September 28, 1939, Serial No. 296,964

7 Claims. (Cl. 7810-24) This invention relates to water softening and water conditioning apparatus.

It is the object of this invention to provide a unitary control for the control of the successive operations of relling, brining, washing and softening.

The particular object of the invention is the provision of a brine valve as an integral part of the single control valve. I

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for the upward wash of the mineral bed during the ref-lll period of refilling the brine tank.

It is an object to provide the brine tank with hard water immediately before the regenerating process and not afterwards, as heretofore has been the practice in the art. When the refilling operation takes place before the regenerating process, there is thereby compelled automatically the upward back wash and cleaning of the mineral bed.

It is a furtherobject to provide a check valve in the injector throat` to prevent the washed Water which flows upwardly through the mineral from contaminating the clean hard water which ows through the jet and thence through the brine Valve into the brine tank.

An additional feature of this invention is double washing of the mineral bed in opposite, directions: the rst wash is in the reverse direction to softening upwardly that carries sediment from the top of the mineral bed to drain during the rell operation, and the second wash is subsequent to brining in the reverse direction downwardly, whence the brine and any remaining sediment goes to drain. The advantage of this double washing is the removal of accumulated sediment on top of the filter softening body prior to brining to permit the active reaction of the brine directly on the magnesium and calcium salts without being impeded by any coatingof sediment on the mineral.

Thevfurther object is to remove the free salts of magnesium and calcium with any accumulated sediment by the final washing after brining so that hard water when it is passed through the mineral to be softened will not be contaminated and can be actively softened by clean, regenerated mineral.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 256,066y led February 13, 1939, now

Patent No. 2,255,520, dated December 9, 1941,

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is an outside elevation partially broken away to show the general arrangement 0f the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a detailed front elevation of the single control valve.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof with the rotor shaft in section showing in dotted lines the compartments and ports in the valve.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detailed section showing a modication of the valve structure.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure '7 is a section on the line I-'I of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view' showing the direction of flow of the water during washing.

Figure 10 is a similar View showing the direction of flow during softening.

Figure 11 is a similar view showing the direction of flow during regeneration or brining.

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the direction of now during the refilling.

Figure 13 is a section on the line l3-l3 looking in the direction of the arrows of Figure 4.

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the rotor grooves with respect to the distributor ports when the rotor is set in the position for the softening operation, as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 15 is a similar view showing the parts in position to bring about the refilling operations as shown in Figure 12.

Figure `16 is a similar view showing the parts in position for applying brine to the mineral as in Figure 11.

Figure 17 is a similar view showing the parts in washing position such as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the distributor Showing the relationship ybetween the rdistributor ports and the chambers.

Process Referring to Figures 1, 9, 10,11 and 12 in particular, I designates a tank containing the water softening mineral. Starting at the top of the body'of mineral, there is a layer of iron-removing mineral 2, then a body of Water softening mineral 9 which removes the magnesium and calcium and preferably also removes objectionable materials so far as taste and odor are conand brine waters. The city water orhard water line II is connected with the valve for supplying the water to be treated, which it passes through the valve and thence into the pipe I2 and through the distributor I9 into the top of the tank I, whence it passes downwardly or upwardly as indicated bythe arrows, depending upon the nature of the operation. The valve 9 is connected by the pipe I4 for the purpose of delivering brine I9 from the brine tank I6 to the mineral body to regenerate it. Thereafter the brine with the salts of magnesium and calcium and other foreign materials passes out to drain from the bottom of the tank. 'I'he brine tank is provided with a layer of gravel I1, a layer of salt I9, and the salt brine waters I5. The level of these waters is indicated by the pointer I9 on the shaft 20 having the float 2I,which is a brine float floating on the brine Il. The salt level indicator is designated 22. It is mounted upon a shaft 29 which has an enlarged foot 24 resting on top of the salt I9.

Referring particularly to Figure 9, which illustrates the washing operation, the water from the hard water line I I passes through the valve 9 into the top of the tank I and downwardly through the mineral to wash it of any remaining brine and foreign material. This waste water passes out through the pipe 9 and thence through the drain pipe I9 to the sewer. After this operation has been completed, which usually takes approximately to 30 minutes, then the system is ready for the operation to soften' water.l The handle 9a of the valve 9 is moved into the position shown in Figure 10. In this position the incoming hard water` proceeds as heretofore described, except that it is now diverted through the service pipe 24 so that softened water is delivered to the household or other place where it is consumed. 'Ihis continues until the water is no longer actively softened by the softening mineral 2, whereupon the valve handle 9a is moved into the position shown in Figure l2. 'Ihe purpose of this is to rellv the brine tank I6 so that the level of the water will reach that shown in Figure 12. During this period thehard water from the pipe II passes fromthe valve 9 downwardly through" the pipe 9, upwardly through the mineral bodyin the tank, out the pipe I2 and thence to drain through the pipe I9, thereby washing the accu- ,soasse passes down through the cleaned mineral, out the bottom of the tank I, up the pipe 9, through the valve 9, and thence to drain through the pipe I9.

,washing and refilling, there is no possibility of a filter.

Thereafter the washing step of Figure 9 is repeated and then the valve is set in the position .shown in Figure 10 for another softening operation.

One of the features of this invention is the dual washing of the mineral bed. It is washed upwardly in reverse direction after softening during refilling to carry away any accumulation of sediment on top of the mineral body, which acts as Then the reverse washing takes place after brining, which carries out the remaining brine and any remaining Yforeign materials. In this manner the mineral is thoroughly cleaned in both directions prior to brining and after brining so as not to contaminate or impede the regeneration operation, which would be the case if the mineral body were clogged with sediment that would prevent the ready attack of the brine upon the magnesium and calcium salts of the mineral. Another advantage of this process is that the valve construction is so arranged that during the the discharged wash water getting into the brine ltank to contaminate the brine with any sediment being washed away by the wash water.

It will be understood that a variety of diii'erent types of valves 9 may be employed which will perform -these several operations and it is not desired to conilne this invention to any particular mechanism.

However, this invention also comprehends novel features in a valve that has been found practically useful. These features are described `hereinafter in connection with the detailed description of the valve and its method of operation, now that the general operation of the system has been described.

Valve mechanism and method of operation the pipe I2 that in turn is connected to the top of the softenertank I. The bottom of this distributor head is 'connected at 99 to the pipe 9, which is connected to the bottom of the softener tank I. The right-hand side of this distributor head 29 is connected at 9I to the drain pipe I9.

mulation of sediment and other foreign materials out of the tank 9 from the top of the mineral water for washing were conducted downwardly.

this foreign material would be drawn into thel where such materials have accumulated. If the i the brine tank I9 to refill the brine tank and provide a supply of brine for the brining operation. Turning to Figure l1, the brining operation is brought about by -moving the handle 9d t0 tht The left-hand end side of the distributor head is connected to the hard water pipe II at 92 and to the service pipe 24 at 99. The brine pipe I4 is connected through the union 94 to the top of the cover casing 21. The bottom of the cover casing 21 is provided with a plug 9U upon which is mounted a spring 99 that presses upwardly an indexing finger 91 into a shouldered portion 99 of the rotor 29, so that the positioning of the rotor at its several positions bythe handle 9a will be indicated by this spring pressed plunger 91 which is adapted to be pressed into a series of depressions on the periphery of the rotor, one each to each position in which the rotor is set for the distribution of water. This rotor turns with the Shaft 2l that i9 SUPPOI'ed within the cover 21 in the bearing 39, which is provided with a packing 40 and packing gland 4I. A pin mounted inthe shaft 25 engages with the inside of the co\ er 21. The inner end of the shaft 25 is journaled in a recess 43 in one face of the distributor head 29.

By referring to Figures 6 and 14 to 17, the construction of the rotor, particularly with respect .o its face adjacent the distributor head 29 and the positioning of the rotor with respect to the distributor ports, will be observed. In this connection Figure 6 shows the face of the distributor 44, which has a plurality of ports which cooperate with the rotor grooves. The relative positioning of the rotor grooves with respect to the distributor ports determines the distribution in this valve of the uid. The port 45 in the distributor 29 communicates with the top of the softener through'pipe I2. the distributor has mounted therein the jet device 41 used in connection with the injector 48, as will be herein described. The port 49 communicates with the hard water line II. The port 50 communicates with the service pipe 24. The port I communicates with the pipe 8 leading to the bottom of the softener. The port 52 communicates with the drain pipe I 0.

Referring to Figures and 14, which illustrate the softening positionof the mechanism, the hard water is connected to the top of the softener I through the pipe II. The bottom of the softener I is connected by the pipe 8 to the service line 24. The drain I0 is positively closed by a valve mechanism hereinafter described but illustrated particularly in Figure 5, consisting of the spring-pressed plate 53, which is spring pressed by the spring 54, both the plate 53 and spring 54 being mounted within a chamber 55 in the rotor 21. to bring about down flow of the hard water through the mineral bed in the softener tank I. In such a position (refer to Figure 14) it will be seen that the rotor groove 56 bridges the ports 45, 46 and 49, while the groove 51 bridges the ports 58 and 5I. This permits the water to flow as indicated by the arrows diagrammatically in Figure 10.

Referring to the refill position of Figure 12 and to Figure 15, which shows diagrammatically the position of the rotor with respect to the distributor during refilling, it will be observed that' the groove 56 now bridges the hard water port 49, the service port 50 and the port 5| leading to the bottom of the softener. The jet port 46 is connected by the passageway 58. The groove 51 spans the port 45 and the port 52. In this position the hard water pipe II is connected to the jet 41 through the milled slot 58, to the service line 24 and to the bottom of the softener I by the pipe 8. The top of the softener I is connected through ppc I2 to the drain pipe I Il. The flow through the mineral bed is upward. This washes out the sediment from the top of the mineral bed direct to .drain without any of this dirty water getting into the refill water for the brine tank. At the same time hard water is being delivered from the pipe II through the valve to the-pipe I4 to refill the brine tank I6 with additional water to provide another supply of brine for the regeneration operation that will next occur. The hard water for this purpose enters the port 49, passes through the passageway 58, makes its exit through the jet 41 and thence through the passageway 59 into the pipe I4. In order to do this, the cam shoulder 60 on The parts are so arranged as CFI Port 46 in the periphery of the rotor 21 has liftedr thepin 6I against the spring 62 and has lifted the valve member 63.'

It will be noted that the groove 51 only connects the top of the softener through the port from which the dirty water is moving to the drain 53 and there is no way by which this dirty water could be introduced intothe brine tank I6. I Referring to Figures 1l and 16,'which have to do with the brining position, the groove 51 of the rotor spans the drain opening 52 and the bottom of the softener opening 5I. the opening 45 leading to the top of the softener. The recess 56 spans the jet opening 46, the hard water opening 49 and the service opening 50. By this arrangement the city water or hard water is connected to the service-line for the dwelling using the soft water and the jet opening 46 is supplied with water so as to induce the ow of brine from the brine pipe I4 through the injector to the top of the softener, whence the brine passes through the mineral tank I, out the bottom through the pipe 8, into the groove 51, thence through the drain opening 52 into the drain pipe I0 to the sewer. The force of this injected water passing through the injector 48 lifts the cover sleeve 64. This cover over the injector is normally closed by the spring pressing against the member 66. brine line I4 is effected by the cam surface 60 lifting the pin 6I and thereby opening the valve 63 against the spring 62. This valve has a hard rubber seat 63a. engaging with the soft rubber seat 63h, so as to form a tight seal when the valve is closed.` In the event the soft rubber wears away, the hard rubber still provides a yielding seal. This is essential to prevent any leakage of water into the brine tank when it is not being refilled because otherwise it might overflow.

Referring to Figures 9 and 17, which illustrate the washing operation, the rotor groove 56 spans the jet opening 46, the hard water line 49, and the service line 50. The groove 51 spans the bottom of the softener line 5I andthe drain opening 52. In this position the hard Water is connected to the service line and to the injector jet- 46. The bottom of the softener is connected by the. pipe 8 through the groove 51 to the drain 52. The water is flowing downwardly at this time. In this way the household or other building connected to the serivce line is being supplied with hard water while the washing operation is washing the accumulated brine and salts of magnesium and calcium from the mineral out to the sewer.

It will be understood that the rotor 26 has water pressure on the back or left-hand face (Figure 4) to cause it to press firmly against the face 28 of the distributor. This is .effected by having the water pass through the port 61 from the front of the rotor to behind it.

It will be understood that it is desired to comprehend within this invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a distributing valve for a water softening system, the combination of a distributing head, a rotor in engagement with said distributing head and having fluid passageways therein, a cover cooperating with said distributing head to enclose said rotor, means for rotating said rotor, a hard The recess 53 is over The opening to the water inlet in said distributing head, said distributing head having "a plurality of ports for communication with said passagewaysA in said rotor and a plurality of outlet ports for communication with the water softening system with which the distributing valve is associated, said ports and passageways providing means for con` ducting uid fio'w through the distributing valve into the water softening system with which the valve is associated, a brine inlet passage for conducting brine to said distributing head, a control valve in said brine passageway, and means actuated by said rotor for opening and closing said brine control valve.

2. In combination, in a single control water softener valve, a distributing head, a rotor in engagement with said distributing head and having a plurality of passageways therein. a cover cooperating with said distributing head to enclose said rotor. means for rotating said rotor, a hard water inlet in said head, passageways in said rotor and said distributing head for conducting water from said hard water inlet through said rotor and head, said passageways in said head being adapted to be connected to a service line a drain line and softening tank lines, jet means associated with one of thepassageways in said rotor and with one of the passageways in said distributing head, an injector associated with said jet means, a brine inlet passage connected to said distributor for conducting brine adjacent to said injector for passage therethrough, valve means in said brine passage for normally closing thesame, and means associated with said rotor for actuating said valve upon rotation of .said rotor for operating said brine valve.

3. In combination, in a single control water softening valve, a cover having a chamber therein, a distributor mounted on one face of said cover to close said chamber, a rotor rotatably supported within said chamber between the cover and said distributor and in engagement with said distributor, a hard water inlet in said distributor, said rotor having a plurality of arcuate passageways on the face thereof adjacent said distributor, said distributor having a plurality of passageways therein for cooperation with said rotor passageways for conducting tiuid from said hard water inlet through said rotor anddistributor, said passageways in said distributor being adapted to be connected to a service line a drain line and softening tank lines, a brine inlet passage connected to said distributor for conducting brine to one of said passages in said clistributor, a valve in said brine inlet passage, cam means on theother face of said rotor to position the same and to actuate said brine valve, means actuated by said rotor cam means for opening said valve, and an injector associated with said distributor and brine valve.

4. In combination in a water softening control valve, a distributing head, a cover for said head, a rotor positioned between said cover and said head in engagement with said head, means for rotating said rotor, a hard water inlet in said head, passageways in said rotor and said head for conducting and directing the flow of iluid through the valve, said passageways in said head being adapted to be connected to a service line a drain line and softening tank lines, .a brine inlet pas- Base connected to said distributor and in communication with one of said now conducting and directing passageways therein, a valve in said brine passage, cam (means on said rotor, and

means actuated by said cam means for operating said brine valve.

5. In combination in a water softening control valve. a distributing head, a cover for said head, a rotor positioned between said cover and said head in engagement with said head, ,means for rotating 'said rotor, a hard water inlet in said head, passageways in said rotor and said head for conducting and directing the flow of fluid through the valve, said passageways in said head being adapted to be connected to a service line a drain line and softening tank lines, a brine inlet passage connected tosaid distributor and having a portion thereof adjacent said rotor, said brine inlet communicating with one oi said flow conducting and directing passageways in said distributor, a valve in said brine inlet passage and disposed in the portion`of thel brine inlet passage that is adjacent said rotor, means yieldingly retaining said valve in said closed position, cam means on said rotor, and means actuated by said cam means upon rotation of said rotor for opening said valve. a

6. In combination, in afsingle control water softening valve, a hard water inlet in said valve, a cover having a chamber therein,i a distributor mounted on one facof said cover to close said chamber, a rotor rotatably supported in said cover within said chamber between said cover and said distributor and in engagement with said distributor, said rotor having a plurality of annular passageways on the face thereof adjacent said distributor, said distributor having a plurality of ports adapted to communicate with the passageways in said rotor and a plurality of outlet ports in said passageways adapted to suitably connect the distributor to a service line a drain line and softening tank lines, cam means on said rotor, a brine line connected to said distributor, a valve therein, spring means for normally closing said valve, and means operatively connecting. said rotor and said valve to open the same upon rotation of said rotor.

chamber, a rotor having one face contacting said stator face and having grooves in its contacting face adapted to cooperate with said ports to variously interconnect the same to direct water flow from the hard water inlet chamber, a jet device mounted in said stator face in communication with one of said chambers and adapted to project a jet of liquid rearwardly, one of the grooves in said rotor connecting said jet device at all times with a supply ofliquid to be jetted therein, an injector behind said jet device in communication with a .chamber positioned in said stator rearwardly of said jet, one of said ports having its cooperating chamber in free communication withsaid rearward chamber, a chamber in said stator between said jet device and said injector through which liquid is sucked by said injector and jet device and into which said jet is received when said injector is closed ofi, check valve means inoperative association with said injector normally urged to close said injector. said valve being opened by the force of said jet when liquid is flowing rearwardly in said rearward chamber and closed when liquid is flowing forwardly in said rearward chamber, an inlet and outlet port in uid communication with said chamber between said jet and said injector to .iet when said injector is closed o', valve means in said inlet and outlet port, cam means operated concomitantly with rotation of said rotor, and

Ameans extending between said cam means and supply brine thereto to be sucked by said jet 5 said valve for operating said valve means.

device and injector when said injector is open and to receive therefrom liquid supplied by said EARL E. EICKMEY'ER. ANTHONY G. HORVATH. 

